Without Rhythm (The Lament)

by P. S. Power

  "The Judge's chambers are at the back of the second floor. The weapons are in the weapons locker, I'll get that for you before I turn in. You don't have a key for it yet. That means that if you need anything from it for now you either get Clark or I to help, or if we're incapacitated for some reason, you break in. Remember, anything can be used as a weapon. From now on I want you to think about that with everything you do. Find a way to turn every object, even other people, into something you can use to fight."

  "You mean while I move without a pattern and keep to a highly focused and alert state?" She meant it to be a smart comment and a bit sarcastic, but it came out sounding matter of fact for some reason. Like it made sense and wasn't too much to try and do at once.

  "Precisely. You know Pran, I have to say I'm surprised at how well you're doing so far. Keep this up and maybe there's hope for you yet." Then she turned and jogged into the ship, not saying anything else.

  Pran struggled to keep up, tired already, even though it was barely mid-morning.

  Chapter five

  It turned out that her job of guarding the Judge wasn't what she expected at all. The woman had her own exercises and such to do indeed, but the second she saw Pran standing outside her door she called her into the suite, which was about eight times larger than the little room she and Roy were sharing. Plus she had her own bathing chamber and restroom, which meant she didn't have to leave to take care of those things.

  "We can lock the door and you can exercise with me. The Guardians have a very similar ritual, so I think it will be fine and not interfere with your training." Then, without waiting the woman started telling her what to do.

  "Align the spine and allow the bones to carry the weight of your form, head up at all times, since this is how the body is designed to function best. Don't let yourself vary from this, unless it is needed for your work. Always sit and stand thusly." She demonstrated, her body shifting a tiny fraction backwards, allowing her to look a bit taller suddenly.

  Then there was instruction in how to breathe, which was familiar to Pran, since they did the same things for singing exercises. The stretching that came next was peculiar, but her body was ready enough for it, having done similar things for years. The hard part was that breathing and body carriage exercises were added to it as well as meditation. This time she was supposed to focus on feeling only the single form within herself, instead of everything. The whole thing was a regular pattern, not random at all.

  "And now exhale and return to a ready state, body upright and balanced."

  The woman in front of her was wearing loose white clothing, but not her full robes at all. Without waiting she moved to a low cushion and got a cup of coffee, offering some to Pran without hesitation.

  "One of the best things about being on ship, we always have coffee." The woman smiled peacefully and gestured for Pran to sit, clearly suggesting another pillow.

  "Um, I don't think I should, ma'am. If I'm sitting I don't think I could protect you fast enough if something happened. I don't have any skills to speak of that way, so, you know, I guess if we do come under attack while I'm on duty you should try to run away? I'll be busy trying to hit people with a stick. Poorly." She said it with good humor, but still in a decently focused state. Not aware enough by half, of course. It was hard to hold it all, standing correctly while trying to think of how a coffee cup could be used to thwart an attack and working to make her breathing irregular just to keep practicing as she went, even holding still otherwise.

  "Very well then, I don't want to tell you how to do your own work. Especially since what you said is exactly what every Guardian I've ever talked to on the subject has suggested as well. The first part at least." Sipping at the cup the blond woman closed her eyes and then smiled broadly.

  "So, we have only sketchy information on you Pran. Would you tell me a bit about yourself? We should be friends after all. Don't you think?"

  That got her to blink and shrug, which threw her spine out of perfect alignment.

  "I'm an orphan, and never knew my parents. At nine, or at least close enough to that age, I was sent off to the art school here. Yesterday, the day before that really, I tried to switch out the statue of the first councilor with one that I made of a horse. It was a prank, but shouldn't have been that big of a deal. We were working in the dark and I misjudged the whole thing, so both statues fell and broke. It was four stories nearly, so it made a mess. The head of the horse, it came off and hit my friend Bard Sollen in the leg. It broke, the leg I mean, and the school council kicked me out. I was supposed to be off getting my apprenticeship right now." She sighed, wondering what kind of rebuke would come from the woman now, since it was her job to sit in judgment of others when there was wrong doing. She was, in a very real sense, the law.

  If she thought that someone needed more punishment than the rules called for on paper, she could do that without blinking. Or she could let people go without anything being done to them at all. It was all up to her.

  "That seems a bit harsh. A waste of government funds too. Was there more to the story that you didn't share with me?"

  "Not really... I mean, that's what happened. It seems pretty hard to me too, but they didn't stop to ask my opinion of it all. If they had I could have tried crying and begging, instead of just being kicked out with only the clothes on my back." It came out sounding angry, like she wanted to harm someone over it, which wasn't exactly showing her to be in total control or anything like that at all.

  "Sorry, still a little raw on the point."

  There was silence then for a long time, the woman simply sipping at her cup, not mentioning the whole thing again. When she spoke the topic was totally different.

  "This afternoon we need to move the prisoners back to town and see to the trial. It must be public, and those that know the situation will be required to speak. Since you were the arresting Guardian you'll need to explain all your actions and why you took them. Don't hold anything back at all. Do you understand? Even if it makes you look bad, you must tell the whole truth. If you don't I'll be required to mention it and that can influence the minds of those listening. I know that there will be reasons for you to hedge or to try and seem brave, as others will be watching, but you must do it." Her voice held an extra quality of sincerity, the words pushing out of her mouth a little, her frame leaning forward as if to press the idea closely.

  "I'll do that." What was she going to say, that she wanted to lie to everyone and protect herself? She clearly didn't have that right now, did she?

  Not as a Guardian, at least it didn't seem like she did. Part of the commitment thing.

  "Very good. Would you be so good as to find Bard Benjamin for me? I'd like to speak to him about some matters." The woman seemed content enough to wait with her door locked from the inside, while Pran went to get him. It didn't seem very "guardy" but it was, supposedly, normal enough Claire assured her.

  It took a while to do, since the Bard was still in bed, his small room turning out to be next to Doctor Millis. The man came out to look, hearing the knocking.

  "Ah, the young apprentice! Are you well dear? I can see to health related matters, or we can just talk if you like? I'm always here for you all, even if people forget that half the time." He pushed up his wire rimmed glasses and straightened his fine looking black coat. His old face smiling and friendly seeming.

  "I'm feeling... decent actually. Physically at least. My leg is a little sore, but the wound isn't bad and hasn't opened again. I've kept it clean." The injunction from the Judge to tell the truth influenced her to say more than she might have normally. It was a strange thing, but it rang out to her clearly.

  "Emotionally... Well, things haven't been going perfectly. I'll live, but thank you, for the offer. I might have to take you up on that in the future."

  "Anytime. Don't hesitate to call on me. I have an oath you know, to serve those in need. I take it pretty seriously too."

  He pointed the way to the Bards room, and only abou
t five minutes of banging later Ben came to the door, dressed in a plain nightshirt, hair rumbled and face creased by the pillows.

  "What? Do you know what time it is?" He growled the words before he pulled the door all the way open, looking a bit put out by the whole thing.

  "Judge Claire would like to speak to you about some matters, what that is she didn't say. As to the time... About four hours past when you should get up if you do most of your work on a ship?" She didn't know that, but Pran thought it sounded pretty good.

  Ben just groaned at her.

  "You'd think, but that's only about time to get up for a performing Bard. Let me get myself around. Could you tell her I'll be by in about half an hour?"

  "I could... I won't though. Stop being lazy, she just wants to talk and you don't seem drunk, throw on some clothes and go back with me. You'll probably be back in bed before you know it, snoozing away the afternoon." She grinned when she said it, trying to take the whole thing in, like she was supposed to, remembering to stand upright and balanced the whole time.

  "OK... bitch. I'll be out in a minute."

  He shut the door, which got her to smile, a real thing this time.

  "Fine, but if you aren't out in five minutes I'm coming in after you."

  It wasn't much of a threat, since he was a full Bard and she was just a fake Apprentice Guardian, but regardless he came out two minutes later, hair brushed hastily and wearing a nice tan leather and red silk outfit with a lot of straps. Those he gestured at lazily.

  "Help with this? If you want me to hurry at least."

  It didn't take that long, the ten straps having brass buckles that needed to be cinched along the sides. He could get himself out of it at least, even though it would take longer. When she did his boots for him he sighed and shook his head.

  "This is why I need to get my own apprentice. It takes fifteen minutes to do this myself. Well, let's go then." The Bard's face was unshaved, showing a day's growth, but not too soft on the jaw line. He didn't look old, being nineteen or so, but he carried himself as if he were important. It was a thing, she realized, that she was doing too, if for a different reason. Her aligned spine and upright chin would serve to make her seem much the same way.

  It had taken her ten minutes, but she delivered Ben without too much waiting, the Judge giving her a kindly expression when they knocked on the door, announcing themselves.

  "We're alone." Pran didn't know why she added that, but it felt right. Official and everything, which meant she should have done it before the door was opened. It was a heavy thing that could hold people off for a good long while if they tried to break it down, but the Judge had simply opened it on hearing who it was.

  "Very good time, were you up for the day already Bard Benjamin?"

  "Oh no Claire, not at all. Pran threatened to dress me herself if I didn't run to heed your call instantly. As it was she had to do half of it anyway. Not the good half either. So, what can I do for you?"

  "Oh, just a few matters. Would you come in please? Pran, if you could rouse Clark and see to his meal for him? Just go to the galley and explain. Mara is still abed?"

  It was a jumping of topics, but she nodded anyway.

  "About two hours sleep right now."

  "Don't wake her then. We'll let Clark do that just before we need to leave."

  That created a whole different problem then, or would have, except that she ran into Dovish in the galley door, trying to beg some food from the rather stern looking cook, a woman that made a face at her too, but softened after a few seconds, her blue dress and white apron showing a bit of wear.

  "An' I suppose you'll be starving too, needing food afore the noon meal lest you perish of it?"

  Pran shrugged.

  "I do need food, for Guardian Clark. If possible we should set something aside for Guardian Mara too, since she may not have time for a proper meal before we all leave later... I could also use directions to Clark's room? I have to go and get him for the day now. I don't know where everything is though." She looked at Dovish, who seemed pretty eager to help. He was waving his right hand a little at any rate.

  "I do, I do. I can take you there... My stomach..." He looked sad, like helping her might mean not eating soon at all.

  "If you can guide me to his room, I bet there will be something to eat when we come back." She glanced at the woman in the apron, who didn't look that old, but seemed happier suddenly than she had been.

  "I think we might just arrange that, if it's for the Guardians. You two get and let me see what I can come up with, this far before the meal." She showed them out, her hands waving as if trying to get rid of pesky flies. It was probably pretty close to that really.

  "This way." Dovish jogged awkwardly, looking back to make sure she wasn't getting lost. The layout of the ship wasn't that hard to master, though she felt ridiculous when she saw where the Guardian's doors were. She'd walked past them several times already, on the second floor almost right outside Judge Claire's chambers.

  Pran rolled her eyes and decided to just not mention it to anyone.

  "Thanks. Wait here? We can go back for the food together." That way the woman in the galley would have some time to actually make something.

  She knocked on the solid door quietly, wondering if she'd have to pound for a while like she had on Ben's, but it opened not ten seconds later.

  "Problem?" It wasn't gruff, just relaxed and ready, sounding fresh, like he hadn't been asleep at all.

  Pran shook her head.

  "I was asked by the Judge to wake you, so that things can be arranged for the day? The lady in the kitchen is making something for you to eat. Dovish here too." She waited then, wondering what she was supposed to do next, but the man just nodded and shut the door, coming out ten minutes later, clean and tidy looking. He clearly had his own shower and restroom too.

  Dovish had waited, shifting anxiously from foot to foot, but not saying anything at all. He looked to be in his mid-twenties but reminded her of a little child in many ways. His hands wrung, as if nervous that they'd forget he needed food too. He'd probably missed breakfast after all, being in trouble for sneaking out like he had.

  Bard Benjamin left Claire's chamber just in time for Clark to walk out into the hall, but hurried away, seeming more than a little perplexed, which wasn't the state that Pran had left him in. Clark didn't ask about it.

  "Alright, who's on watch with the Judge?"

  "Um, me. She locked herself in with Bard Ben, I made sure of that. Mara said the ship would be safe, but I tried to hurry..."

  "Heh. Fine then. Let her know that you're back and stand at the door. If anyone tries to get past you that doesn't belong here..."

  "Flail at them with the stick I don't know how to use?" Pran grinned, then corrected her body posture and tried to focus again. "Without using a repeated pattern of movement?"

  Clark nodded.

  "Pretty much. It shouldn't happen, which means being twice as vigilant. That's the most dangerous time after all, when you think everything is safe." He patted Dovish on the back once then, speaking softly.

  "Let's see to that food, eh?"

  The slow young man was nearly the same size Clark was but he bounced a little then, happy enough to go along. Not speaking, just bobbing his head a bit.

  Instead of standing in front of the door she was invited back in while Claire got into her official robes, which weren't the ones from the day before at all, but were rather thicker and heavier looking things, though also all in white. She sighed and smiled a bit.

  "Do up the back? This is a horrible design, the old ones were better for the circuit Judges, you could just drop them over the head. Clark always acts like he's about to see me naked when I have to have him help. It would be funny, except that I don't want anyone to feel out of place. Truly there should be four of you here with two being women. You can do that part at least already. Probably better than the others can, given your training. I spoke of what you could likely do with Bard Benj
amin." She sounded muffled, her mouth turned to the heavy collar trying to see Pran.

  "It seems that you're a magical creature of resplendent talent, did you know that? He suggested that, if we were intelligent, we'd forget this Guardian nonsense at once and set this right in town. Which, I assure you, we will try to do. Our own needs do not outweigh right, or goodness. Unfortunately I don't have jurisdiction over the school council in this matter. They have the right to remove you from the school at any time during your stay, without reason. It seems strange that they would, but it is within their rights to do so at whim." She shifted the heavy cloth around by brute force then, trying to get comfortable.

  "What I can do is try to find out why it happened and suggest that they review the matter. It might not leave you any better off, but it could work. If not, well, you have us now, so you don't have to worry. Can you aid me with make-up as well? I like to have some on for official things, but I seldom get to..."

  It didn't take that long to do, Pran making sure that she didn't over do anything, mainly smoothing her complexion and then adding just a hint of color to lips and cheek. It was lighter than what would be used for a performance, but no one wanted to see a Judge looking like a clown anyway. This should be just enough to make her look good without seeming out of place.

  It was an hour later when she moved down to the front of the ship, where the wagon waited with the carriage and two heavier wagons, one with a cage on the back. Clark already had the prisoners in that one. They didn't look all that happy and the rapist had fresh bruises on his face, real ones that were already turning green and purple, so they probably weren't from the large Guardian at all. Someone had beaten him in the cell most likely, earlier in the day. Probably his friends who'd risked their necks to try and save him, only to have it turn out their buddy was actually guilty.